Amid the accelerating digital transformations that present unprecedented challenges and opportunities for global financial markets, and within the framework of the “First International Conference on Financial Innovation and Technology – New Horizons for Economy and Investment” organized by the Faculty of Business, Ain Shams University, under the auspices of Prof. Mohamed Ayman Ashour, Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research, and Prof. Mohamed Diaa Zain El-Abedeen, President of Ain Shams University, the conference serves as a leading global platform to anticipate the future of the digital economy.

In this context, the conference will host an exceptional and interdisciplinary panel session discussing contemporary challenges and strategies for protecting the digital infrastructure of financial markets in the era of technological revolution.

The fourth panel session, titled “Cybersecurity and Financial Markets”, will take place at the Republic Guard Hall – Grand Palace, on Tuesday, December 23, 2025, from 2:30 PM to 4:00 PM.

The session will feature leading experts and thought leaders in cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, and financial transformation in Egypt, chaired by Prof. Mona Kadry, Dean of the Graduate School of Management at the Arab Academy for Maritime Transport and Technology, and Professor of Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence (Session Chair), and Dr. John Zaki, German International University, and Digital Transformation Advisor at the Supreme Council of Egyptian Universities (Session Rapporteur).

A distinguished lineup of experts will also participate, including Prof. Rania El-Gohary, Professor of Artificial Intelligence, Faculty of Computer and Information Sciences, Ain Shams University, Prof. Mohamed El-Sayed, Senior Legal Compliance Expert in Cybersecurity, Dr. Mohamed Hassan Ramadan, Cybersecurity and Cybercrime Consultant, Dr. Mohamed Nasr, Head of Internal Audit and Governance at eFinance, Prof. Ahmed El-Sayed Mansour, Assistant Professor of Computer Science and NVIDIA Ambassador for Europe, the Middle East, and Africa, Prof. Ahmed Mahmoud Heikal, Professor of Computational Computing and AI, Faculty of Engineering, Mansoura University, Dr. Nabil Khalifa, CEO and Co-Founder of Miska AI, and Dr. Mahmoud Ahmed Shawky, Egyptian Center for Research and Development & German International University, Cairo

The session will address the critical challenges posed by the digital storm to financial market security, transforming it from a technical discussion platform into a strategic fortress to safeguard trust, the backbone of the economy. The discussion will focus on analyzing sophisticated and covert threats targeting stock exchanges, payment systems, and databases, providing a proactive vision supported by artificial intelligence and machine learning technologies to detect vulnerabilities before they are exploited, shifting from a reactive mindset to one of anticipation and prevention, thereby building financial systems that are not only intelligent but also resilient.

Key questions will be addressed, including how to establish “digital sovereignty” to protect financial assets in cyberspace and how legislation can keep pace with rapid innovation without hindering it. The discussion will evolve into a workshop for drafting a new “digital social contract”, reviewing the necessary legal and technical frameworks for data protection, and presenting effective models for digital governance and compliance.

The session will also highlight the importance of human capital development as the strongest line of defense, turning cybersecurity from a cost burden into an investment driver and competitive advantage, ensuring fast and secure digital economic growth.

This session represents a unique platform for exchanging insights among policymakers, academics, and practitioners to develop a comprehensive framework that combines technological innovation with strict security requirements, ensuring sustainable and reliable growth for financial markets in the Arab region.

The conference invites media representatives and all those interested in the future of accounting and finance to attend this distinguished scientific session.

The First International Conference of the Faculty of Commerce, Ain Shams University, brings together academics, experts, and practitioners from Egypt and around the world to chart a roadmap for the intersection of financial technology with various economic and accounting disciplines.